Week of May 28, 2026
Week of May 28, 2026
The Petersburg Borough Assembly unanimously adopted the property tax millage rates for fiscal year 2027 at its May 18 regular meeting, slightly raising the rate for Service Area 1 property owners to 10.93 mills and introducing a new area-wide general purposes levy that for the first time charges all borough property owners for services the borough charter has always authorized charging borough-wide, but which Service Area 1 taxpayers have been covering since borough formation. For Service Area 1 residents the new rate of 10.93 mills - an...
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The "Kéet Yaakw" – or the killer whale canoe – launched from Petersburg on Sunday morning and reignited a tradition of canoe-based transportation – the first such departure in at least 100 years. Traveling by canoe to Celebration – the biennial gathering of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribes in Juneau – has been a tradition for tribes in the region. This year Petersburg joins the paddling tradition for the first time since Celebration became an event. ShaaL'aanee Brandon Ware is...
In last week’s edition of the Pilot, in the story about Desi Burrell being named the Petersburg Community Foundation Volunteer of the Year. The Pilot misspelled the last name of Dorothy Enge, and we apologize for that mistake. In a story about Chris Weiss retiring from our local library, published on April 23, 2026, the Pilot wrote that Library Director Tara Alcock “arrived in Petersburg 23 and a half years ago with no library experience.” It was, in fact, only Petersburg’s library that she did not have experience with, finding... Full story
The Petersburg Borough Assembly gave first-reading approval last Monday to an ordinance raising sewer utility rates by 20 percent for fiscal year 2027, the latest step in a multi-year effort to cover the costs of aging infrastructure and heightened state and federal environmental compliance requirements. Ordinance #2026-11, which passed 7-0 and will require two more readings before taking effect, would increase the base residential monthly service charge from $56.79 to $68.15 for a standard...
"How many of you have ever played with sounds from outside? Like rocks and sticks, pinecones, shells, water?" asked Alexis C. Lamb, of a circled crowd at Sandy Beach. A percussionist, composer, and educator, Lamb came to Petersburg as part of the Devil's Thumb Chamber Music Festival. Not only did she perform as a percussionist and showcase her work as a composer, but she also wore her educator hat at the festival. The crowd at Sandy beach had gathered to be a part of Lamb's "Forest Orchestra"...
“Petersburg is straight-up beautiful,” said State Rep. Rebecca Himschoot, pausing to appreciate the labrador tea and the muskeg wildflowers while walking the Hungry Point trail after a community potluck last Saturday. After the close of the 34th session of the Alaska Legislature, Himschoot visited Petersburg – part of House District 2, which she has represented for the past two terms. On the walk she reflected with the Pilot on the legislative session – it’s highs, lows, and painful vetoes. Three major bills — two vetoed Himschoot...
Canadian men Neil Warrington, Liam Gilchrist, and Ryan Van Horne left Petersburg on Friday, May 22 for an expedition with the goal of summiting Devil's Thumb. The plan is to ski up the Baird Glacier, then, if conditions allow, climb Devil's Thumb. Their bags were packed with three-weeks' worth of supplies. With the notorious weather of the area, the climbers approach the expedition with an open mind. "The objective is to go climb Devil's Thumb, but really we're just going for a walk in the...
May 29, 1926 – No organized campaign has been started but nevertheless Petersburg is enjoying a “clean-up” and “paint up” period. Springtime with fine, sunshiny days has brought the painters out in flocks. Boats, houses and other buildings are all beginning to tone up. Some of the buildings downtown which have been feeling the painter’s brush are the Salvation Army hall, M.A. Missick’s tailor shop and the superintendent’s residence of the Petersburg Packing Company. A marked improvement on the latter is especially noticeable...
Wartime "Service Rolls" or "Honor Rolls" were community-created rosters that honored members who served in the United States Armed Forces during World War II. Churches and civic organizations created the rolls to keep track of deployed sons, daughters, and neighbors. They served as a focal point for community prayer and morale. Often designed as large decorative posters or wooden plaques, many featured a gold star for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Artifacts such as these document the...
Kristina Barkfelt Please describe a specific moment or event from high school that stands out as a highlight for you. Hanging out during lunch with my best friend, Aurora, and always having lunch at the lunch table with all my friends and always having something interesting to talk about! What advice would you give to incoming freshmen? Don't try to reinvent yourself overnight. It's tempting to show up as a 'new version' of you, but lasting change comes from small, consistent shifts. Be open to...
The families of the PHS 2026 graduating class decorated their vehicles, and the community celebrated as the noise parade cruised around the Sandy Beach loop and through downtown on Wednesday...
King Salmon: King salmon fishing began on May 15 in the Wrangell Narrows/Blind Slough Terminal Harvest Area (THA), where Alaska hatchery-produced king salmon are returning. We will have a creel technician on the docks starting this weekend, asking anglers about their catch and taking biological samples. I have heard of king salmon being caught in the saltwater portion of the THA. I have not heard of a king salmon being caught in the freshwater portion (Blind Slough), where we have a creel technician this summer, but I have heard the trout...
Needing to win at least three of their four remaining games to win the newly integrated Aurora Coastal Conference (ACC), the Petersburg Boys Baseball team began their quest with their first two games against the Monroe Catholic Rams. It was a pitchers duel to start with Tanner Caulum getting the start for the Vikings. The first runs of the game came after two errors by the Rams scored two runs for the Vikings and then senior center fielder Nathan Kerr singled, scoring two more runs to give the...
The Petersburg High School Track and Field team qualified 17 athletes to the ASAA Championships this upcoming weekend after their recent performance at the Region V Championships – nine boys and eight girls. "We're still getting better, which is the biggest thing, we haven't peaked yet," head coach Casey Gates said. "The kids are still in a very positive-driven mindset so I think we're in a good spot to have a successful weekend up at Anchorage." The Vikings had region winners in the boys...
Hello Market Friends To the Editor: We are thrilled to announce Bekah Gumz as the Market Manager of summer 2026! Bekah spearheaded The Market as the manager in 2024 and has participated as a vendor. She brings her interest in the arts and community to the role and we look forward to a wonderful season with her at the helm. Season details and Vendor Applications will be confirmed and available ASAP! This has been a particularly tough set up year for The Market Board and we appreciate your patience as we navigate the unpaid work of creating a...
Legislators are being held after school this month and the state is paying for the extra time because the governor did not do his homework. If that seems backward, you’re right. Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered lawmakers to stay late after class ended because he insists that they approve major big-time relief from property taxes for the owners of the proposed, possible, maybe someday Alaska North Slope natural gas pipeline and export project. The governor believes the multi-multibillion-dollar project will go ahead if the state House and Senate...
May 13 – An abandoned vehicle was reported on N 1st St. Its owner was contacted and moved the vehicle. A complainant reported a traffic hazard on S Nordic Dr. There is an on-going investigation. A disturbance was reported on S 2nd St. An officer responded and assisted an intoxicated individual. Suspicious activity was reported at the U.S. Forest Service building on N Nordic Dr. An officer searched the building and found everything was okay. May 14 – A disturbance was reported on S 3rd St. An officer responded and determined it was...
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